1. Simulation Curriculum Corp.
  2. Community
  3. SkySafari | Other Telescopes
New post
0

How To Connect SkySafari 6 Pro + Avalon Linear Using A USB Connection (Answer: Read On, And Also Contact Avalon Linear Support)

Dear sirs,

I am experiencing serious problems when trying to connect SkySafari 6 Pro to my Avalon Linear mount via USB cable.

Sometimes I succeed by connecting to the mount simulator then changing the driver to LX200 Classic again but, most of the times, I don't succeed at all.

I am using a Macbook Pro Retina 2013 with the latest Catalina and consider that I am able to connect easily with other applications.

Please find hereafter the connection log

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sent ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:03:41 with error 0:
:
Received ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:03:41 with error 0:
1
Sent ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:03:41 with error 0:
:
Received ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:03:41 with error 0:
1
Sent ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:03:41 with error 0:
:
Received ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:03:41 with error 0:
1
Sent ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:03:41 with error 0:
:
Received ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:03:41 with error 0:
1
Sent ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:03:41 with error 0:
:
Received ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:03:41 with error 0:
1
Sent ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:03:41 with error 0:
:
Received ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:04:11 with error -13:
Received ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:04:41 with error -13:
Sent ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:04:41 with error 0:
:
Received ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:04:41 with error 0:
00:09:46#
Sent ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:04:41 with error 0:
:
Sent ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:04:41 with error 0:
:
Received ASCII at 2020/01/14 23:04:44 with error -13:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you

Gaetano

Date Votes

7 comments

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Hi Gaetano, 

    Please follow the setup instructions for SkySafari, as provided by Avalon Linear:

    https://www.swagastro.com/uploads/2/3/3/7/23377322/stargo_user_manual_rev1.7.2.pdf

    I am not familiar with Avalon Linear mounts.  SkySafari does not claim to support this mount.  Avalon Linear has not contacted our developers regarding support for this mount.  So, if Avalon Linear claims that SkySafari works with their mount you need to contact their support department for assistance.

    Thanks!

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    After you contact Avalon Linear Support please post their solution here for all other SkySafari community members to learn from.

    Thanks!

  • 0
    Avatar
    Gaetano Vocca

    Hi Keiron,

    thank you for your answers.

    You are right specifying that SkySafari doesn't claim to support Avalon Instruments mounts but, actually, they work with version 6 of SkySafari when the connection is established via wireless channel.

    Recent generations of Avalon mounts are equipped with a control system named StarGo which can be connected using Meade LX200 Classical protocol. Now, everything works via Wi-Fi but it doesn't via USB-serial connection.

    Given what you say, I understand that this happens almost by chance and it makes me feel a bit disappointed and unsure that the integration between SkySafari and Avalon mount will become stable and solid. From a SkySafari user point of view this is somewhat a bitter conclusion.

    Have a nice day

    Gaetano

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Gaetano,

    Again, I have to point you at Avalon Linear Support.  They make the claim.  They can support the claim.  And please let us know what they say.

    I will reach for a possible solution here.  If you want to USBtoSerial connect via Meade protocol then you probably need to be using a Meade-specific serial cable.  Is that what you are using?  We sell them here:

    https://store.simulationcurriculum.com/collections/scope-control/products/telescope-serial-cable

    Thanks!

  • 0
    Avatar
    Gaetano Vocca

    Keiron,

    I apologise for not being clear enough. Avalon’s documentation instructs on how to connect from SkySafari to their mounts via  a wireless connection, specifically Bluetooth. Now, again, the wireless connection (either Bluetooth and WiFi) works very fine. In conclusion, I think we can say that Avalon’s claim is fulfilled.
    Now let’s come to USB which doesn’t work, the connection cannot be established as myself and at least one more SkySafari user are trying to explain.
    The fault is on nobody here, it is just a simple, technical, integration problem which I am trying to highlight. Has Simulation Curriculum any interest in investigating about it? If yes, I will be happy to help, just let me know what kind of test you want me to perform and I will do my best to doit. If not, believe me, life goes on anyway :)
     
    Regarding the connection, it is obtained via a standard USB cable as the mount has a built-in USB-serial converter in its electronics, which is based on a FTDI chipset. 
     
    Thank you for the time you take to answer me
    Gaetano
  • 0
    Avatar
    Mauro Ghiri

    Hi Keyron,

     

    I’m Mauro Ghiri, one of the Avalon Mount Testing Team and also the author of the Avalon StarGO manual you have cited before (now arrived to version 4.1.0). In particular, as an addicted to Apple equipment, I’m in charge of testing the interaction of the Avalon mounts with Mac computers, iPad and iPhones.

     

    I can confirm that Avalon does claim the compatibility of its mount control system, called StarGO, with SkySafari using wireless connection to Apple equipment using WiFi with Macs, iPad and iPhone of all generations. The compatibility using Bluetooth is, until now, limited to Macs due to the BT chips used by Apple for its iPad and iPhone.

    At the same time I must say that Avalon never claimed the compatibility of StarGO with SkySafari using an USB connection.

     

    But we are here to try to resolve this issue, raised by Gaetano, but common to many other Mac and StarGO users (included myself).

     

    Some information about the USB system used by Avalon in the StarGO:

    It is based on FTDI chip. The drivers for this chip are normally present in any recent version of Macs. Give the frequent updates of the drivers by FTDI, it is advisable to update the Mac with the last published drivers.

     

    Once connected with an USB cable (many have been tested with the same results) the StarGO with a MacBook Pro 13” 2019, running Catalina OS, the Serial/USB connection is established as it may be seen in the first screenshot of the System Report.

     

    Also SkySafari (version 6.4.0 Pro) recognizes the connection because the Serial Port indicated by an arrow is reported in the dropdown list of the Telescope/Setup/Communication Setting menu. See the second screenshot.

     

    Once chosen this Port and tried to connect the telescope, the only result is show in the third screenshot.

     

    I want to add that the StarGO works without problems with other software such as kStars using EKOS/INDI and AstroTelescope (mac only app from the App Store).

     

    I personally remain available for any other information that can be necessary to resolve the issue and for any further assistance (I’m the most interested user, of both StarGO and SkySafari, to the resolution).

     

    In we don’t want to overload this thread you can contact me at this email address: mghiri@mac.com.

     

     

     

     

  • 0
    Avatar
    Gaetano Vocca

    Hi Mauro,

    thanks for your note on this topic.

    Your comments are fully in line with the description of the problem and, I think, with Avalon's claims. As I already wrote in a previous comment, feel free to ask if there is any information that can be useful to better investigate or, hopefully, to solve this point.

    Cheers

    Gaetano

Please sign in to leave a comment.